Envelope



y 1936- w. G. SCHRAM ET AL- ,041,434

ENVELOPE Filed Oct. 51, 1933 INVE TOR. 773%; X0 2 BY 4. ATTORNEY.

Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPE Application October 31, 1933, Serial No. 696,074

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in envelopes and relates more particularly to an improved envelope. which will serve the purpose of sending a letter and will further serve as a return envelope, space also being provided on the interior of the structure for the sending as well as the reply message.

The. present return envelope may be employed for all types of correspondence but it will be found particularly useful for business correspondence wherein inquiries or offers are sent to individuals and corporations and wherein it is highly desirable to provide means for a reply with a minimum amount of effort on the part of the party receiving the letter.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of a novel return envelope having a suitable area for correspondence by both parties and which is made from a single blank of paper or the like, the shape of the blank being such that it may readily pass through a printing press for printing the necessary information or data thereon.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel return envelope and correspondence sheet which will be particularly useful for soliciting contributions for charity, the envelope being so constituted that space is provided for the address of the party to whom the letter is sent as well as the address to which the letter is to be sent when it is returned. The embodiment of the invention which is adapted for this purpose is provided with sealing means so that in the event a check is sent along with the reply the check will not be lost. This embodiment also provides a space for a confidential reply and is therefore much more useful than a business reply card.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a novel return envelope which is made from a blank of sufliciently heavy paper so that in the event the recipient does not deem it desirable to return the entire envelope he may detach a rectangular portion thereof which will provide a self-addressed reply card, thus saving the expense of postage on a sealed letter.

The invention further contemplates the provision of an improved return envelope which may be sent and also returned unsealed to effect a saving in postage in cases wherein the contents of the letter are not confidential, flaps and slots being provided to retain the entire envelope in a closed condition.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved return envelope for advertising purposes wherein ample space will be provided on the interior thereof for the articles to be displayed and wherein suitable space will further be provided for ordering. any of the said articles, it being contemplated that in this embodiment of the invention the advertising or other 5 matter be printed on a web of paper prior to the cutting of the blank, thereby efiecting a considerable saving in the cost of the envelope.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank which constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment in a partially closed position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken section, the view showing the relative position of the various portions of the folded blank when sealed and ready for mailing.

The preferred embodiment in the invention, which is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, includes a rectangular blank 5 which is cut from suitable paper, the blank having a central longitudinal scoring 6, and a plurality of transverse scorings I. The blank is thus divided into the principal sections 8, 9, l0, and H, a relatively short extension section l2 and a somewhat longer extension section l3. A sealing flap portion [4 having a gummed area I 5 is integral with the upper longitudinal edge of the section 8, this sealing flap portion being employed for the initial sending of the envelope. Another sealing flap portion I6 is integral with the lower longitudinal edge of the section I I, this fiap being employed when the envelope is returned.

When the embodiment is employed for advertising purposes, all or any part of the sections 8 to l3 inclusive may be employed for the advertising matter, although in certain instances various portions thereof may be left blank to provide space for the reply. The section I3 is further provided with perforations I! to provide a reply card l3 in the event that the answer to the initial letter is not of a confidential nature, and in this instance the reply card is merely severed from the main blank and sent.

When the envelope is sent originally, the blank is folded as follows: The section I2 is folded inwardly, and the sealing flap It is likewise folded. Next the section 13 is folded and the combined sections II], II and I3 folded upon the balance of the blank. Finally, the two remaining sections are folded as shown in Fig. 2, and the sealing flap i4 is sealed as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the address of the party to whom the letter is sent, as indicated at I8, is on the rear side of the section 8, and the return address of the sender on the rear of the sealing flap M, as indicated in IS.

The particular advantage of providing portions l2 and I3, in addition to the added space which they provide, is that when the letter is received by the party to whom it is sent, and a. letter opener is inserted under the flap I4, there is no danger of unintentionally severing the return flap l6, inasmuch as it is protected both by the portions 12 and I3. The address of the sender, and the party to whom the letter is returned, is placed upon the rear side of the section I l, and when the inner envelope is to be returned, the embodiment is folded in the reverse position and is sealed by means of the flap Hi. If desired the flap l6 may be made integral with the lower edge of the section l3 instead of H for use in first class matter. Likewise the central transverse scoring 1 may be perforated and the portions severed when the reply is sent.

The hereinbefore described construction admits of considerable modification without departing from the invention. Therefore, it is the wish not to be limited to the precise arrangements shown and described which are, as aforesaid, by way of illustration merely. In other words, the scope of protection contemplated is to be taken solely from the appended claims, interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the prior art.

What we claim is:

1. A substantially rectangular blank having two central intersecting lines of fold therein, a plurality of gummed flaps integrally secured to said blank at diagonally opposed corners, and extension portions integrally secured at each end of the blank, one of said extension portions having perforations therein so that a substantially rectangular portion may be detached therefrom.

2. A substantially rectangular blank having two central intersecting lines of fold therein, gummed flaps integrally secured to diagonally opposed upper and lower longitudinal edges thereof, and an extension portion integrally secured to one end of said blank.

3. A substantially rectangular blank having two central intersecting lines of fold therein, gummed flaps integrally secured to diagonally opposed upper and lower longitudinal edges thereof, and an extension portion integrally secured to one end of said blank, said extension portion having lines of perforation therein so that a substantially rectangular portion may be detached therefrom.

WILLIAM G. SCHRAM. FRANCIS C. BIRCI-IAIL. 

